Rosa hybrida shrub named ‘AUSvibrant’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSvibrant’ is disclosed. The ‘AUSvibrant’ rose is a plant suitable for repeat flowering production having large deeply cupped blooms having a color blend of deep magenta, pink and red, with an unusual fragrance which develops from Tea into Old Rose.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a United Kingdom Breeder'sRight Certificate Application No. AFP 5/2108 filed Nov. 18, 2008, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridashrub.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘AUSvibrant’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSvibrant’, which was originated by crossing two unnamed,unpatented varieties of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a floweringvariety having large deeply cupped blooms with many petals arranged inan informal way, and having a deep magenta color.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: large deeply cuppedblooms having a color blend of deep magenta, pink and red, with anunusual fragrance which develops from Tea into Old Rose.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed ingreenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that theforegoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form andare established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSvibrant’ may be asexually propagated by budding and grafting. Thebudding and grafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosacv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States and on the plant/rootstock Rosadumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ in the United Kingdom.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas the seed parent has medium-sizedpink blooms and upright short growth, ‘AUSvibrant’ produces a muchlarger bloom of deep magenta. The new variety is classified as a hybridarose.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas the pollen parentbears smaller crimson blooms with few petals, ‘AUSvibrant’ bears largesize flowers of deep magenta having many petals.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the‘AUSintense’ (U.S. Pat. No. 16,763). The new rose may be distinguishedfrom the ‘AUSintense’ variety by the following combination ofcharacteristics: the ‘AUSintense’ has a quartered shallow cup andsmaller blooms compared to ‘AUSvibrant’, which has broader blooms havinga deep cup and bearing more rounded petals. In addition, the‘AUSintense’ variety has a strong Old Rose fragrance, while the‘AUSvibrant’ starts out as Tea and develops into Old Rose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 2-year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of August.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Flower characteristics:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant            during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many            to count.        -   Bud.—Size: About 2.3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is short and            broad based. Color: When sepals first divide, the bud color            is Red-Purple Group 59B. When half blown, the upper sides of            the petals are Red-Purple Group 64B, and the lower sides of            the petals are Red-Purple Group 64B with Red-Purple Group            N74D. Calyx: Shape: Funnel. Length: 1.8 cm. Diameter:            2.5 cm. Sepals: Arrangement: Regular. Color: Upper Surface:            Yellow-Green Group N144A. Lower Surface: Yellow-Green Group            147D. Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 1 cm. Shape: Acuminate with            medium extensions. Margin: Smooth. Surface texture: Upper            Surface: Smooth. Lower Surface: Downy. Number: There are            three lightly appendaged sepals. There are 2 unappendaged            sepals with smooth edges. Receptacles: Color: Yellow-Green            Group N144A. Shape: Funnel. Size: Broad, about 0.8 cm            tall×1.2 cm wide. Surface: Smooth. Peduncle: Length: Medium,            averaging about 6 cm. Surface: Smooth. Color: Green Group            137B tinged with Greyed-Red Group 178B. Strength: Strong.        -   Blooms.—Size: Very large, average open diameter is about            10.5 cm. Borne: Several together in clusters of 4–6 blooms            having an irregular shape. Stems: Strength: Normal, average            length is about 20 cm. Diameter: 5 mm. Form: When first            open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom: retains its form            to the end.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions:            about 90. Color: The upper sides of the petals are            Red-Purple Group 64B. The reverse sides of the petals are            Purple Group 75A. The base of the petals has a spot of            Yellow Group 1D. Discoloration: The general tonality at the            end of the first to third days is Red-Purple Group 64B. With            further aging the color changes to: Red-Purple Group 70B.            Fragrance: Strong. Character of fragrance: Tea developing            into Old Rose.        -   Petals.—Texture: Smooth, velvety. Size: Width: 4 cm. Length:            5 cm. Surface: Smooth. Shape: Round. Margin: Most are            entire, though some outer petals are notched. Apex Shape:            Rounded. Base Shape: Ovate. Form: Incurved. Arrangement:            Informal. Petaloids: Number: 10. Color: Red-Purple Group            64A; Length: 14 mm. Width: 5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Margin:            Irregular. Persistence: Petals drop off cleanly before            drying. Lastingness: On the plant: fair, about 7 days. As a            cut flower: not tested.        -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 45. Length: 8 mm.            Anthers: Length: 4 mm. Color: Yellow Group 2C. Arrangement:            Regular around styles. Filaments: Color: White Group 155B.            Length: 4 mm. Pollen: Color: Yellow-Orange Group 17A.            Pistils: Number: 53. Length: 9 mm. Styles: Color: Yellow            Group 2D. Length: 7 mm. Stigmas: Color: Green-White Group            2D. Length: 9 mm. Hips: None Observed.-   Plant characteristics:    -   -   Plant form.—Shrub.        -   Plant growth.—Vigorous.        -   Age to maturity.—Two years.        -   Mature plant.—Height: 1.2 m. Width: 0.9 m.        -   Rootstock.—Rosa ‘Dr. Huey’ for U.S. and Rosa dumetorum cv.            ‘Laxa’ for observed plants in the U.K.        -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5            (including terminal leaflet). Size: Medium, about 13.5 cm            long×10.5 cm wide. Quantity: Abundant. Number of leaves per            flowering stem: 10. Color: New foliage: Upper side: Green            Group 143B, overlaid with Greyed-Purple Group 184B. Lower            side: Green Group 148B overlaid with Greyed-Purple Group            184B. Old foliage: Upper side: Green Group 137A. Lower side:            Green Group 138B.        -   Leaflets.—Size: About 13 cm long×10.5 cm wide. Shape:            Broadly oval. Base Shape: Rounded. Apex Shape: Acuminate.            Texture: Leathery. Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single large.            Petiole: Color: Green Group 137A. Length: 3.1 cm. Width:            1.3 mm. Surface Texture: With prickles. Petiole Rachis:            Color: Green Group 137A. Underside: With prickles. Stipules:            Length: 2 cm, glandular. Color: Green Group 137B. Auricle:            Shape: Sword shaped. Length: 8 mm. Width: 1 mm. Color: Green            Group 137B. Vein Color: As leaf color Green Group 137B.            Venation Pattern: Net-veined.        -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: Greyed-Red Group 178B. Bark: Smooth.            Old Wood: Color: Green Group 137B with Greyed-Red Group            178B. Bark: smooth.        -   Branching habit.—Number: 8 per main stem. Lateral Branch            Dimensions: Length: 25 cm. Diameter: 4 mm.        -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 45 cm. Diameter: 6 mm. Internode            Distance: 40 mm. The above measurements are all variable,            depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem Pubescence            Present: No.        -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: Few. Number per            stem length: 6 per 10 cm. On laterals from main canes: Few.            Number per stem length: 6 per 10 cm. Form: Deep concave.            Length: 7 mm. Color when young: Greyed-Red Group 183A. Color            when mature: Greyed-Red Group 178A.        -   Small prickles.—Quantity: Main stalk: Few. Number per stem            length: 5 in top third section of stem. Laterals: None.            Color: When young: Greyed-Red Group 183A. When mature:            Greyed-Red Group 178A.        -   Disease resistance.—Mildew: Resistant. Blackspot: Resistant.            Rust: Resistant.        -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.        -   Winter hardiness.—Not tested.        -   Growing conditions.—Normal.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitablefor repeat flower production, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.